For my mother

 

Mary Frances Taylor Bennett

 

Who died just before Catfish was published.

I wanted you to hold it.

 

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And

 

My friend

Sue Couvillion LaPrairie

 

You were the best of us.

You would have been proud of me.

 

 

My nephew

William Joseph ”Joe” Bennett, Jr.

 

You left us way too soon.

I wanted to see what you would give to the world.

 

 

When I began graduate school in 2015 and while I wrote, Catfish, Mama, Joe, and Sue were very much alive. Sue died in March, 2017 as I completed the final revisions. Joe died in June, while I submitted queries to publishers. Mama died in August, just as the cover design was completed. Your deaths inspired me to take this to the finish line without delay, because we have no idea whether we will be here tomorrow to reach our goals.

I miss you.